Kai Mykkänen takes office as Mayor of Espoo 1 February 2025
Kai Mykkänen takes office as Mayor of Espoo at the beginning of February. He was born in Espoo in 1979 and holds a Master of Social Sciences degree.
Mykkänen has extensive experience in Espoo’s local politics. Early on, from 1997 to 1998, he served as Chair of the Espoo Youth Council. From 2020 to 2021, he served as Chair of the Espoo City Council. He was a Member of Parliament for nearly 10 years, serving the last year and a half as Minister of Climate and the Environment.
The Espoo City Council elected Mykkänen as the new Mayor at its meeting on 21 October 2024. The Mayor of Espoo is elected for a fixed term of seven years, after which the City Council may decide on additional terms of up to four years. Mykkänen’s family includes his wife and two children.
Career summary
Member of Parliament: 22 April 2015–23 January 2025
Ministerial positions:
- Minister of Climate and the Environment: 20 June 2023–24 January 2025
- Minister of the Interior: 12 February 2018–5 June 2019
- Minister for Foreign Trade and Development: 22 June 2016–11 February 2018
Director, Confederation of Finnish Industries (2013–2015)
Special Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (2011–2013)
Advisor-Economist, East Office of Finnish Industries Oy (2009–2011)
Senior Consultant, Bearing Point Finland Oy (2008–2009)
Finance Manager, Sampo Bank (2006–2008)
Mykkänen has also held several positions of trust.